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Consumer confidence rose in January to the highest level in seven months as low inflation helped support households, whose outlook for wage gains remained subdued.

Consumer confidence in the United States last week reached a three-month high, driven by a more upbeat assessment of the world’s largest economy.

Consumer confidence in the United States climbed to a 12-week high, boosted by improving household attitudes about the state of the economy.

Confidence ended the year on a brighter note as low prices put U.S. consumers in the holiday spirit.

An increase in consumer purchases in November was accompanied by rising wages and scant inflation, indicating the biggest part of the U.S. economy will continue to underpin growth.

Almost one in four Americans said in December that the economy is getting better, helping give expectations a boost for a second month.

Retail sales climbed in November by the most in four months as American consumers put to work some of the money saved from the cheapest gasoline since early 2009.

Consumer confidence fell last week to a one-year low as households’ views on the U.S. buying climate deteriorated by the most since December 2011.